Ford's new Fiesta ST performance hatch will derive power from the carmaker's new 135kW 1.6 litre EcoBoost engine, but its eventual successor could instead displace just one litre - and pick up an electric supercharger.

According to Britain's Autocar magazine, Ford's new 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine, which currently develops 92kW in its highest state of tune, could deliver as much as 132kW of power.

The report quotes Gunnar Herrman, line director for the Focus (which also recently picked up the new 1.0 litre engine for the UK market), who described the power boost as "a stretch, but possible".

However, whether Ford would move to offer a production version of any engine wrung out to its maximum potential (increasing the potential for mechanical failure), is another matter.

The magazine adds that Ford is believed to have already developed a prototype version of the engine that replaces its small turbocharger with an electric supercharger, while adding the larger turbo used with the 1.6 litre engine.

In its regular form - and potentially with slightly higher outputs down the road - Ford is expected to eventually replace the 1.6 litre engine with the 1.0 litre mill across the brand's line-up.

“We know there might be some resistance from customers asked to go from a 1.6 to a 1.0, but only until they drive it," Hermann said.

Fuel consumption for the 92kW/170Nm version of the 1.0 litre engine is listed at 5.0 l/100km.

By comparison, the 1.6 litre naturally-aspirated Duratec currently available with the Focus in Australia delivers 92kW and 159Nm of torque, with fuel consumption listed at 6.2 l/100km in manual form.